2023–24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team explained

Year:2023–24
Team:Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Sport:Basketball
Conference:Atlantic Coast Conference
Short Conf:ACC
Record:21–14
Conf Record:11–9
Head Coach:Steve Forbes
Hc Year:4th
Asst Coach1:BJ McKie
Asst Coach2:Matt Woodley
Asst Coach3:Jason Shay
Stadium:LJVM Coliseum
Tourney:NIT
Tourney Result:Second Round

The 2023–24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team represented Wake Forest University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Demon Deacons were led by fourth-year head coach Steve Forbes and played their home games at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Demon Deacons started the season 1–1, defeating Elon and losing to Georgia before participating in the Charleston Classic. They ended up in sixth place in the tournament after losing to Utah in the opening round and LSU in overtime in the fifth place game. From there, the Demon Deacons went on a six game winning streak defeating five non-Power 7 foes and Florida in the ACC–SEC Challenge. Their hot streak continued as they won their first three ACC games. The team cooled off and only one two of their next six games with losses against rivals NC State and rivals North Carolina who were ranked third at the time. The team then reversed their fortunes and won five of their next seven games, with the only two losses coming against ninth-ranked Duke and twenty-first ranked Virginia. During that streak, they avenged the rivalry loss to NC State and defeated then eighth-ranked Duke. The team could not carry that momentum through the final four games of the season as they lost three of those games. Their only win came on the final day of the season against Clemson.

The Demon Deacons finished the season 21–14 overall and 11–9 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place. After winning both tiebreakers, they were awarded the fifth seed in the ACC tournament. They received a bye into the Second Round where they defeated twelfth seed Notre Dame, avenging a loss from the regular season. They lost to fourth seed Pittsburgh in the Quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament and were a first seed. They defeated Appalachian State in the First Round before losing to fourth-seed Georgia in the Second Round to end their season.

Previous season

The Demon Deacons finished 2022–23 season finished the season 19–14, 10–10 in ACC play to finish in a tie for eighth place. As the ninth seed in the ACC tournament they defeated Syracuse before losing to Miami in the quarterfinals.

Offseason

Departures

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for Departure
Lucas Taylor 0 G 6'5" 195 Sophomore Transferred to Georgia State[1]
1 G 6'1" 165 GS Senior Graduated/signed to play professionally in France with Limoges CSP[2]
Daivien Williamson 4 G 6'1" 180 GS Senior Graduated
Robert McCray 13 G 6'4" 185 Sophomore Transferred to Jacksonville[3]
Davion Bradford 20 F 7'0" 270 Junior Transferred to New Mexico State[4]
34 F 6'10" 225 Freshman Signed to play professionally in Australia with Cairns Taipans[5]
Xiaolong Xu 45 G 6'1" 180 Junior Walk-on; not on team roster
Grant van Beveren 52 F 6'6" 215 Senior Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons

Incoming transfers

Incoming Transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Kevin Miller 0 G 6'0" 165 Junior Central Michigan[6]
4 C 7'0" 240 Junior Gonzaga[7]
10 G/F 6'6" 200 Sophomore UCLA[8]
23 G 6'5" 180 Junior Gonzaga[9]

2024 recruiting class

Schedule and results

Source:[10] |-!colspan=12 style=| Exhibition|-!colspan=12 style=| Non-conference regular season|-!colspan=12 style=| ACC regular season|-!colspan=12 style=| ACC tournament|-!colspan=9 style=| NIT

Rankings

See also: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings. *AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GSU Basketball Lands Wake Forest Transfer Guard Lucas Taylor. 247Sports. Ben. Moore. May 9, 2023. October 5, 2023.
  2. Web site: Le meneur Tyree Appleby a signé au Limoges CSP. July 18, 2023. limogescsp.com. fr. July 28, 2023.
  3. Web site: Wake Forest redshirt freshman guard Robert McCray set to enter NCAA Transfer Portal. 247Sports. Les. Johns. March 14, 2023. October 5, 2023.
  4. Web site: Aggies Land Seven-Foot Power Five Transfer Davion Bradford. nmstatesports.com. New Mexico State Athletics. September 6, 2023. October 5, 2023.
  5. Web site: Report: Wake Forest's Bobi Klintman has withdrawn from the draft combine. Cody. Taylor. Rookie Wire. USA Today. 15 May 2023. 26 May 2023.
  6. Web site: Addition of Miller Boosts Demon Deacon Backcourt. godeacs.com. May 8, 2023. October 5, 2023.
  7. Web site: Gonzaga big man Efton Reid transfers to Wake Forest. si.com. FanSided. May 4, 2023. October 5, 2023.
  8. Web site: Demon Deacons Bring On Canka to 2023 Roster. godeacs.com. 23 May 2023. 2 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Former Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis transfers to Wake Forest: How he fits with the program. theathletic.com. The Athletic. April 26, 2023. October 5, 2023.
  10. Web site: 2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule. godeacs.com. Wake Forest University Athletics. September 25, 2023.